My first time in Puebla

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the most animated square in the city. Sometimes there are free concerts or art expositions there, so it's definitely worthy.

Description:

This is Puebla's heart. Here you can enjoy the marimba music, sit by a tree and just watch people walk by. There are plenty of sculptures to admire here, so just walk up and down, and I guarantee you a great time!
The Zocalo is in front of the Cathedral, so there's no way you'll miss it.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the most important building in Puebla, and probably the most beautiful.

Description:

Puebla's Cathedral is the second largest in México. Its construction began in 1535 and was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in 1649. In 1575 a new project by the architect Francisco Becerra made it larger and more elaborated. The new cathedral was completed in 1664.
Legend says that this cathedral was built following the plans for the Lima's Cathedral, in Peru, the other Viceregal Capital. But somehow, on the ship that came from Spain the plans got mixed. Maybe that is why Puebla's Cathedral is considered the most beautiful in America.
Though the exterior is austere, the interior is a marvelous spectacle of effusive decoration. It has 14 chapels, and an unusual octagonal altar, designed by Manuel Tolsá in 1797, which is the highlight of the cathedral. The dome is inspired on that of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
The cathedral was built in a Baroque style in transition to the Neoclassical style with some Renaissance details. Its twin towers are the tallest in Mexico and from top of them the view of the city and the volcanoes is excellent.
The facade may seem austere due to the dark stone, but is decorated with statues of saints and some reliefs of four Spanish kings.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world! It’s really small, so it won’t take you longer than half an hour to visit, but it’s worth every second.

Description:

The Palafoxiana Library was founded in 1646 by the Archbishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, viceroy of New Spain, for the Seminary of Puebla. It was the first public library in America, and is the only one that has survived to this day. This stunning Baroque library contains over 42,000 books, some of which date back to the 15th century. It has well preserved unique manuscripts, and at least 9 incunabula. In 2005 it was submitted in the UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
To visit the Library, you have to enter the Casa de la Cultura (the Cultural Arts Center) and go to the second floor. The library is right ahead of you, but the ticket office will be at you left hand side.

Description:

Santo Domingo church houses the impressive Capilla del Rosario (Rosary Chapel). Built in 1690, the chapel is an unique example of Mexican Baroque style. Its strong ornamentation in gilded stucco and onyx stonework has amazed visitors from all over the world for centuries.
On the vault one can see the three theological virtues, according to the Catholic Church, framed by foliage. On the copula, the Grace is accompanied by the Holy Ghost and 16 saints of the Dominican Order. José Rodríguez Carnero painted the six large canvas on the wall allusive to the Virgin Mary. Many other figures, vegetation, flowers and cherubs can be found all over the golden stucco.
This magnificent church was considered the "Eight Wonder of the World" when finished. It's an superb spectacle you can't miss.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is one of the most important museums in Mexico, so you have to go! They also usually have great temporary exhibitions too, so be sure to ask at the ticket office about that.

Description:

The Museo Amparo was opened in 1991, and since then, it's become one of the most important museums in Mexico. It's set in a complex of beautiful colonial buildings remodeled to accommodate this beautiful museum.
There are plenty of things to see here. This museum has the second largest pre-Hispanic pieces collection in Mexico, only after the National Anthropologic Museum in Mexico City. The Colonial Art rooms are beautiful, being in a Colonial building sure helps. In there you can see how'd a regular Colonial house be displayed. After admiring the pre-Hispanic art, to see the many religious and civil works of art shown here, sure can give you and idea of the transition this country had to go through since the arrival of the Spaniards. And the transition is still on. The Museo Amparo has an important modern and contemporary art collection that shows the newest and most important movements in mexican and world art. In this museum there's also a big temporary exposition area, and they're usually pretty good, so ask at the ticket office about who is exhibiting and if you still have time, go check it out.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best crafts shopping place in the city!

Description:

El Parian is the famous craft market established in 1801  in downtown Puebla.
It was originally intended to be a food market for the Conlonial residences, but eventually other markets closer to the Zocalo became more important and the governement decided to turn El Parian into a craft market.
It's a great place to buy Talavera, Onyx and typical mexican toys and candies. If you don't want to buy anything, this is still a great place to admire mexican creativity and crafts history.

Our Local Expert Says:

The most valuable feature of this building is it's facade, so wether you visit the museum or not, take a moment to admire this amazing site.

Description:

This beautiful building gets its name from the stucco-work on its facade reminiscent of a meringue-type candy called "alfeñique". The legend says that a young Spanish man, Juan Ignacio Morales, fell in love with a beautiful Poblana girl who was very fond of meringue, so in order to make her marry him, he built her this house as a wedding gift. It was built in 1791 by Antonio Santamaría de Incháurriegui, an Architect graduated from the Academia de San Carlos, the most important art and architecture academy in the country at the time.
Nowadays this building houses the Regional Museum of Puebla, in which through 500 pieces the history of the city is depicted. You can also admire some period furnishings, two old carriages, a nineteenth century China Poblana dress and the family chapel among many other things.
The museum is open Tuesday thru Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs.